Noble Consort Mei


Noble Consort Mei was a consort of Xianfeng Emperor.

Life

Family background

Noble Consort Mei was a Han Chinese Booi Aha of the Plain Yellow Banner Xu clan.
Father: Chengyi, served as an official

Daoguang era

Noble Consort Mei was born in 1835.

Xianfeng era

Lady Xu entered the Forbidden city in 1853 and was granted a title "First Class Female Attendant Mei". Lady Xu was described as a beautiful and elegant woman. Thus, she was favoured by Xianfeng Emperor. In May 1854, she was promoted to "Noble Lady Mei".
In 1855, Noble Lady Mei was demoted for the first time to a "First Class Female Attendant Mei" from reasons unknown. At that time, she vented her anger on the palace maid. While the severe punishment was being performed, Lady Xu was joking with an eunuch. That incident infuriated Xianfeng Emperor so that she was demoted to a chosen maid.
The demotion meant exclusion from the imperial harem because rank "chosen maid" was not included in the official list. Her clan was downgraded to Booi Aha in one month. Xianfeng Emperor restored lady Xu as "First Class Female Attendant Mei" on 25 July 1856, and to “Noble Lady Mei" shortly after the previous promotion. In March 1858, she gave birth to the second imperial prince, who would die prematurely on 19 March 1858. Noble Lady Mei was promoted to "Concubine Mei" in April 1858.

Tongzhi era

In 1861, after the ascension to the throne of Tongzhi Emperor, Concubine Mei was promoted to "Consort Mei". In 1873, her son was posthumously honored as "Prince Min of the Second Rank". On 8 December 1874, Consort Mei was elevated to "Noble Consort Mei".

Guangxu era

Noble Consort Mei died on 20 December 1890. Her coffin was temporarily placed at Tiancun Immortal Palace and later interred in the Ding Mausoleum in the Eastern Qing tombsalongside with Imperial Noble Consort Zhuangjing.

Titles

玟常在→玟貴人→玟常在→官女子→玟貴人→玟嬪..玟妃→玟貴妃

Issue

  • Prince Min of the Second Rank, second son